Argyreia Akoensis (Convolvulaceae), a New Species from Southern Taiwan
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Taiwania 60(3): 117‒122, 2015 DOI: 10.6165/tai.2015.60.117 Argyreia akoensis (Convolvulaceae), a new species from southern Taiwan Sheng-Zehn Yang, (1*) Po-Hao Chen(1) and George W. Staples(2) 1. Department of Forestry, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, 1 Shuefu Rd., Neipu, Pingtung 91201, Taiwan. 2. HRA, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AE, U.K *Corresponding author: [email protected] (Manuscript received 24 April 2015; accepted 26 June 2015) ABSTRACT: A new species, Argyreia akoensis S.-Z. Yang, P.-H. Chen & Staples (Convolvulaceae) from southern Taiwan, is described and illustrated. Compared to its congeners in Taiwan and neighboring areas, Argyreia akoensis can be differentiated by the corolla lobing, sepal size, and exserted pistil and stamens. A morphological description, diagnosis, line drawings, photographs, and conservation status, as well as a key to similar species are provided to aid in identification. KEY WORDS: Argyreia formosana, biogeography, endemism, Liangshan, Pingtung, Taiwan. INTRODUCTION The genus Argyreia Loureiro is the most taxonomically complex and difficult of the Asian genera of Convolvulaceae and no revision or monograph for the whole genus exists (Traiperm and Staples, 2014). The number of species reported varies from 90 species (Ooststroom and Hoogland, 1953, Mabberley, 2008) to 125 species (Staples and Brummitt, 2007) and was recently increased to 135 species (Traiperm and Staples, 2014). For Taiwan, Staples and Yang (1998) treated one endemic species, A. formosana Ishigaki ex T. Yamazaki, with a second species, A. nervosa (Burm. f.) Bojer introduced and cultivated only. In 2014, one unknown Argyreia species was collected in southern Taiwan; while morphologically similar to A. formosana (Fig. 1) in vegetative characters the corolla Fig.1. Argyreia formosana. A: Habit, leaves ovate-cordate. morphology and color are quite different from that B: Inflorescence, about 4–6 flowered, peduncle distinctly species. shorter than the petiole. C: Corolla funnel-form, deeply We have compared this unknown plant with several 5-lobed, all white in color; pistil and stamens obviously exserted. species already described that could possibly be conspecific with it (Table 1), and consulted floras for leaves subcordate at base; corolla tube 3 cm long; East Asia and Malesia (Ooststroom and Hoogland, staminal filaments inserted at the mouth of the corolla 1953), particularly the Philippines. None of the tube; ovary bilocular; and short peduncles. previously described species matches this unknown Type: TAIWAN: Pingtung County: Machia Taiwan plant and we conclude that there is no specific Township, Liangshan, elev. 150–200 m; 30 October name available for it; it is here described as a new 2014, P.-H. Chen 499 (holotype K!; isotypes A!, PPI!). species, Argyreia akoensis. Liana, stems dextrorsely twining, up to 8 cm diam., younger parts sparsely appressed-pilose. Leaves TAXONOMIC TREATMENT alternate, ovate, 5.5–17.5 × 4–12.5 cm, upper surface sparsely appressed-pilose, lower surface densely Argyreia akoensis S.-Z. Yang, P.-H. Chen & G.W. appressed-pilose, apex acute, base subcordate, margin Staples, sp. nov. 屏東朝顏 Figs. 2–5 entire, venation reticulate, nerves 8–14 on either side of Similar to Argyreia sumbawana Ooststr. (in midrib; petioles 2.5–8.5 cm long, sparsely Ooststroom and Hoogland, 1953: 499) in having a appressed-pilose. Inflorescence cymose, 1–6-flowered; shallowly 5-lobed corolla, pistil much longer than peduncles 2–5 cm long, distinctly shorter than the corolla, but differing from that species by petioles; pedicels 4–6 mm long, appressed-pilose; obovate-oblong bracts, 5–7 mm long, 2–5 mm wide; bracts obovate-oblong, 5–7 × 2–5 mm, outside brown 117 Taiwania Vol. 60, No. 3 Table 1. Morphological comparison of Argyreia akoensis with five similar species Argyreia Argyreia Ipomoea Argyreia Argyreia Characters Argyreia mollis akoensis formosana harmandii nervosa sumbawana LEAF Leaf size (cm) 5.5–17.5 × 4–12.5 6–11 × 5–9 5–10 × 6–9 4–15 × 1.5–7 10–30 × 8–25 6–13 × 3–8.5 kidney or elliptic to narrowly Leaf shape ovate ovate- cordate suborbicular oblong ovate to orbicular ovate slightly emarginate to Leaf base subcordate cordate or deeply cordate acute or attenuate deeply cordate truncate or shortly subtruncate attenuate sparsely densely to sparsely Leaf upper sparsely glabrous sericeous, appressed-hairy or glabrous or nearly densely surface appressed-pilose glabrescent glabrous so appressed-sericeous Lateral nerves 8–14 7–10 4–5 9–18 11–16 9–14 FLOWER Petiole length (cm) 2.5–8.5 1.5–6 6–10 1–6 <10 2.5–6 Peduncle length (cm) 2–5 1.5–2 0.7 0.5–2.5 >20 3–11 ovate to oblong or Bracts shape obovate- oblong oblong - obovate- oblong elliptic ovate- lanceolate Bract length (mm) 5–7 6–4 - - 35–50 - Sepal length (mm) 6–9 5–8 10–20 8–10 >15, 10–12 5–6.5 Corolla length (cm) 3.6 1.8–2.0 - 5-6.5 6 2.5 Corolla 5-lobed shallowly deeply deeply shallowly shallowly shallowly Pistil & stamens included or exserted exserted included included included exserted exserted Number of ovary locules 2 2 2 4 4 4 FRUIT Fruit color unknown red unknown red or orange red yellowish brown unknown and densely appressed-pilose, inside brown and humidity. Vines twine around Dimocarpus longan Lour. glabrous, soon caducous. Flowers pendant; sepals 5, and Flueggea virosa (Willd.) Voigt. and its associated imbricate, orbicular or oblong, outside green and species included Albizia procera (Roxb.) Benth., densely appressed-pilose, inside green and glabrous, Bauhinia championii (Benth.) Benth, Broussonetia outer 2 orbicular, 7–9 × 7–9 mm, inner 3 oblong, 6–7 × papyrifera (L.) Vent., Callicarpa formosana Rolfe var. 5–6 mm; corolla broadly campanulate, outside glabrata Chen & Yang, Kleinhovia hospita L., white-pink, inside center purple-red, the midpetaline Lepidagathis formosensis Hayata and Mallotus bands sericeous, for the rest glabrous, corolla tube repandus (Willd.) Muell.-Arg. about 3 cm long, limb about 4 cm diam., ruffled; Distribution: known so far from three populations stamens 5, exserted, filaments filiform, 13–15 mm long, distributed in the Liangshan area, Pingtung County, glabrous, inserted at the mouth of the tube, dilated and Taiwan. densely pilose at the base, with septate hairs; anthers Elevation: 150–200 m. dorsifixed, pink, 2–3 mm long; pistil exserted, style 1, Conservation assessment: There is not yet enough about 2.7 cm long; stigma capitate, 2-lobed, about 2 information about the distribution, abundance, nor mm long; disc annular, margin entire; ovary globose, threats to this species; we consider it Data Deficient glabrous, about 2 mm long, 2-loculed, 4-ovuled. Fruits (DD) at this time. immature, seeds not seen. Additional specimen examined: TAIWAN: Pingtung Phenology: Flowering in October to November. County: Liangshan, 26 October 2014, P.-H. Chen 498 (TAI). The plants were discovered in vegetative condition on 24 May 2014; the first flowers were observed on 30 Discussion October. During subsequent visits (22 Nov., 20 Dec., 2014 and 25 Jan., 2015) the leaves were yellowing, In our efforts to identify this Taiwan Argyreia we flowering had ended, but the ovaries were not maturing compared it with species from nearby geographical into fruits. We continued to visit the plants but still areas including China, Vietnam, and the Philippines, as haven’t found the fruit stage. Further observations are well as using the keys for identification in the Flora of needed to record details of the fruits and seeds. China (Fang and Staples, 1995) and the Flora Ecology: Three populations grow along the trail Malesiana accounts for Convolvulaceae (Ooststrooom sides on a mountain slope in the forested area, on a and Hoogland, 1953). Among the several species we gravel substrate, exposed to full sun and lower compared the Taiwan plants with are: A. mollis (Burm. 118 September 2015 Yang et al.: Argyreia akoensis, a new species from southern Taiwan Fig. 2. Argyreia akoensis. A: Habit, the population growing at hillside. B: Inflorescence cyme, about 1–6 flowered, peduncle distinctly shorter than the petiole. C: Corolla funnel-formed, shallowly 5-lobed, abaxial white-pink in color, adaxial center purple-red in color. D: Leaves, adaxially sparsely appressed-pilose, abaxially densely appressed-pilose. E: Pistil much longer than corolla, stigma capitate, 2-lobed; stamens 5, nearly as long as corolla; anther dorsifixed, pink. F: Petiole 2.5–8.5 cm long. 119 Taiwania Vol. 60, No. 3 Fig. 3. Argyreia akoensis S.-Z. Yang, P.-H. Chen & G. W.Staples. A. flowering branch; B. flower; C. bracts (abaxial view); D. bracts (adaxial view); E. sepals (abaxial view), outermost (left) to innermost (right); F. sepals (adaxial view), outermost (left) to innermost (right); G. dissected corolla (abaxial view); H. dissected corolla (adaxial view) and stamens; I. stamen; J. pistil; K. calyx and ovary (cross-sectional view); L. portion of leaf (adaxial view); M. portion of leaf (abaxial view). Drawn by Dr. Chun-kuei Liao from P.-H. Chen 499 (holotype!). 120 September 2015 Yang et al.: Argyreia akoensis, a new species from southern Taiwan Fig. 5. Argyreia akoensis. A: Dissected calyx with densely appressed-pilose indumentum (abaxial view), innermost sepal (left) to outermost (right). B: Adaxial calyx green and glabrous, inner sepals 3, oblong (left), outer 2, orbicular (right). C: Bracts 4, soon caducous, abaxially brown in color Fig. 4. Argyreia akoensis. A: Dissected corolla, adaxial view, and densely appressed-pilose. D: Adaxial bracts brown in purple-red in color. B: Dissected corolla, abaxial, with five midpetaline bands. C: Ovary 2-loculed, 4-ovuled. D: Stamens color and glabrous. Scale: A–D: 5 mm. equal in length, dilated at the base with pilose hairs; pistil with ring-like disc at the base, yellow in color.